Religious Food Choices

Food Preparation & Nutrition: AQA GCSE, topic 5.1.3

Food Choices Related to Religion

Different religions dictate different dietary rules.

No strict laws on eating.
Some Christians may decide to give up specific foods or drinks for the lent period.
Certain foods tend to be eaten during Christian festivities. For example:
On Good Friday, Christians may eat hot cross buns to remember Christ's crucifixion.

According to the Qur'an, food must be halal - animals must be blessed and slaughtered according to Islamic law.
Muslims cannot drink alcohol or eat any forms of pork.
Some Muslims fast (refrain from eating) during Ramadan - the 9th month of the lunar calendar.
Muslims do not eat or drink between sunrise and sunset during Ramadan.

Some Hindus are vegetarian to avoid unnecessary suffering to something living.
Some vegetarian Hindus don't eat vegetables that are thought to be harmful (e.g. onions, root vegetables and garlic).
Hindus do not eat beef as cows are sacred animals in Hinduism.
Jhatka is meat from an animal killed instantly, without experiencing pain. Hindus must eat Jhatka meat if they are to eat meat at all.

Different religions dictate different dietary rules.

If Sikhs have been baptised, they cannot eat meat that's been ritually slaughtered (like halal meat).
Lots of Sikhs chose to be vegetarian.
Sikhism emphasises the importance of not overindulging and only eating the necessary amount.

Kashrut is a set of Jewish religious dietary laws. According to these laws, food must be fit for eating (kosher).
Animals that are kosher are:
Those with split hooves and those that chew cud - e.g. sheep and goats.
Scaly fish with fins - this means shellfish cannot be eaten.
Kosher animals should be slaughtered instantly and painlessly. Their blood must drain off (blood is not kosher).
Some of the animals Jews are not permitted to eat include dogs, camels, horses, pig, and rabbit.
Judaism prohibits the cooking or consumption of dairy and meats together.

Although there are no laws about vegetarianism and veganism in Buddhism, a lot of Buddhists chose to be vegetarian or vegan because they consider all living beings to be sacred.
The majority of Buddhists abstain from drinking alcohol because they think it negatively affects your perception of the world.
Some Buddhists only eat between sunrise and noon and fast between noon and sunrise the next day.

Rastafarians are not allowed to eat pork.
Many chose to follow an Ital diet (food grown from the earth). Most diets are predominantly plant-based.
Those who choose to eat fish must consume fish that's less than 30cm (ruler length) long.
Lots of Rastafarians abstain from drinking alcohol but do drink liquids made from natural ingredients (e.g. orange juice and other fruit juices).

What are the laws about eating in Islam?
According to the Qur'an animals for food must be blessed and slaughtered according to Islamic law. What is the meat produced called?
Hindus must eat Jhatka meat if they are to eat meat at all. What is Jhatka?
Which religion does not eat meat from cows because cows are thought to be sacred?
What is the name given to the Jewish religious dietary rules?